La Molina, Spain - Maria Riesch of Germany smashed the opposition on Sunday to win a slalom ski race while her second-placed American friend Lindsey Vonn regained the World Cup lead. Riesch, 24, had the best time in each of the two runs for a combined total of 1 minute 52.98 seconds. It was her first win of the season and seventh overall.

Maria Riesch, of Germany, clears a gate on her way to winning an alpine ski, Women's World Cup slalom race, in La Molina, Spain, Sunday, Dec.14, 2008. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)

Vonn trailed by a massive 1.48 seconds in second place with 1:54.46 minutes. The third-placed Austrian Kathrin Zettel was almost another second behind on 1:55.34 minutes.

Lindsey Vonn, of the United States, clears a gate during the first run of an alpine ski, Women's World Cup slalom race, in La Molina, Spain, Sunday, Dec.14 ,2008. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)

Lindsey Vonn, of the United States, reacts after completing an alpine ski, Women's World Cup slalom race, in La Molina, Spain, Sunday, Dec.14 ,2008. Vonn finished in second place. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)

The defending champion Vonn reclaimed the overall World Cup lead with 438 points from eight events. Finland's Tanja Poutiainen, who had ranked first by winning Saturday's giant slalom, has 400 points. Riesch is third with 328 points.

Sweden's Anja Paerson clears a gate during the first run of an alpine ski, Women's World Cup slalom race, in La Molina, Spain, Sunday, Dec.14, 2008. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)

Vonn also commands the slalom rankings after three races with 230 points from Riesch (200) and Czech Sarka Zahrobska (179).

Maria Riesch, of Germany, center, winner of an alpine ski, Women's World Cup slalom race, celebrates on the podium with second placed Lindsey Vonn, of the United States, left, and third placed Kathrin Zettel, of Austria, in La Molina, Spain, Sunday, Dec.14 ,2008. (AP Photo/Armando Trovati)

The women's World Cup continues on Friday in St Moritz, Switzerland, with a super-combined event.

DPA
Sun, 14 Dec 2008 12:54:41 GMT
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